Rotatable brush



G. B. ALLEN.V ROTATABLE BRUSH. APPLICATION FILED APH. II, 1919.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

umn-:D STATES GEORGE B. ALLEN, OF ATLANTA-GEORGIA.

Bo'rA'rAB'LE BRUSH.

Application led April 11,

.ful Improvements in Rotatable Brushes, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n vrotatable brushes adapted for. use in cleaning the teeth, while not necessarily restricted to this use.

in important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which is o f simplified construction and embodies means whereby the cleaning element may be easily removed, when desired. g

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brush embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same, parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the device;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a similar view, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a. fragmentary perspective view of the cleaning element;

Figure 7 is a similar viewv of the coupling to receive one end of the body portion of the cleaning element; and

Figure V8 is a similar view of the second coupling to receive the other end of the body portion of the cleaning element.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of m invention, the numeral 10 designates a tubular handle, preferably formed of Celluloid, although it may be formed of any suitable material. This tubular handle is provided near its forwardv end with a milled portion 11. At t-he extreme forward end of the tubular handle is a guard 12, preferably formed integral therewith. This guard is curved longitudinally and transversely, as shown.

Rotatable within the tubular handle 10 is a shaft 13, provided at its rear end with a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. s, i922.

1919. Serial No. 289,247.

milled head onnut 14, preferably formed integral therewith. The longitudinal displacement of the shaft 13 is prevented by a screw 15, engaging with the tubular handle 10 and proJecting into an annular groove 16, formed in the forward portion thereof.

The numeral 17 designates a rotatable cleaning element, embodying bristles 18, carried upon the longitudinal body portion 19. This longitudinal body portion is preferably formed of twisted strands of wire having the bristles 18 interwoven therein. The cleaning element 17 is circular in cross section and decreases in diameter toward its opposite ends, as shown. VThe body portion 19 1s flexible to a certain extent and the ends thereof are adapted for insertion within tubular couplings 2O and 21, such ends fitting snugly within these tubularl couplings, so that the cleaning element is locked to. the tubular couplings for rotation therewith.

Attached tothe forward end of the guard' 12 is a spring element 22, as shown at 23.

This spring :element is provided with a circular opening 24 rotatably receiving the coupling'20, while the coupling 21 has a shank 25, formed polygonal in cross section and adapted for insertion in a correspondingly shaped recess 26 formed in the forward end of the shaft 13. The couplings 2() and 21, carried by the body -portion 19 may be readily inserted within the openings 24 and 26, by slightly bending or bowing the body. portion 19 or bending the spring 2'2, or bending both the spring and the body portion 19.

In the use ofthe device, when the parts i are assembled as shown in Figure 1, the forward end of the same is placed in the mouth so that the rotable cleaning element 17 contacts with the' teeth, the guard 12 contacting with the cheeks. This guard,A will tend to `hold the device in place in the mouth while' Sorted to without departing fromI the spirit of the invention or the scope `of the sub- ]'oined claim.

Havig thus described my invention, I claim:

In a rotary tooth brush', the combination with a tubular handle having a rotatable shaft mounted therein, a cleaning element connected to said shaft and adapted to be rotated thereby, a coupling member mounted at the outer endof said cleaning element, of a rigid guard carried by said tubular handle and arranged adjacent said cleaning element, the outer end of said guard terminating at Aone side of the axis of said brush and short of the outer end of said coupling. member, and a resilient bearing plate for Said coupling member secured to said guard and narrowing toward its outer end and being curved inwardly and terminating approximately in'alnement with the axis of the brush and provided With an opening t0 rotatably receive said coupling member.

In testimony whereof I `aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE B. ALLEN. Witnesses: i

H. C. CHAPMAN, En. M. REIMAN. 

